Iwo Jima

By far one of our most ambitious projects to date, this spectacular tribute to the battle of Iwo Jima brings one of history's greatest battles, and one of the most important photographs of the 20th century into glorious 3 dimensions. Spectacularly detailed, all the way down to the seams in the army issued pants and fierce grit and determination on each individual's face, this is the ultimate gift for any military history enthusiast or true patriot.

Spanish artist freelancing from Madrid for more than 20 years as CG sculptor for various industries, from advertising to product visualisation and video games, Mario Taboada Duro brings to life unique fantasy creatures from his vivid imagination.

Commemorating the 72nd anniversary of six Marines from E Company hoisting what’s become perhaps the most famous American flag in history.

IWO JIMA

Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima

Silver Statues is proud to commemorate the historic battle of Iwo Jima with this spectacular solid silver statue, an heirloom quality reminder to this generation and the next of what the greatest generation of them all gave to keep us free.

1 flag, 6 MarinesAnd the cost?Everything.

For those that fell, the cost of Iwo Jima was everything, and for every new day of freedom that we enjoy, we honor them still.

This heirloom quality statue pays tribute in solid silver to the men of iron who took the island.

In 35 days of savage fighting, 6821 Americans gave their lives and 19,217 were wounded.

27 Medals of Honor were earned, and you can honor their sacrifice still with this fine silver statue.

“Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima.”

Success in the Pacific depended on this tiny volcanic rock. Iwo Jima was the last hop in a chain of stepping stone islands that led to the Japanese mainland, and it was one of the keys to ending the war. It had to be taken.

The U.S. sent 110,000 Marines from Hawaii in 880 ships, their largest deployment ever.

Their commanders felt confident that they could take this 8-square-mile blip in the ocean, 2 days at the most, they thought. Bombers and battleships pounded the surface for 3 days before the assault, but the Japanese Imperial Army was not on the surface. Below ground 21,000 soldiers who typically fought to the death roamed the island in specially built tunnels.

When the Marines landed, they surged onto the beach, only to be met with silence. It seemed like the bombing and shelling had worked.

The flat beach was just as expected, but to move inland the Marines knew they would have to haul heavy equipment, knee-deep over 15-foot-high slopes of soft volcanic ash.

For the next hour, lulled by the calm, men and their equipment packed the beach, making ready for the push. Then the terrible rattle of machine guns broke the silence and began to cut them down. Men with nowhere to run dropped, bullets raked them, landmines exploded amongst them and artillery shells rained down on them. It was a scene from hell.

Iwo Jima translates to “Sulfur Island”, and the air reeks of it.

In response, the Army’s 147th Infantry Regiment was sent to scale a high ridge with grappling hooks and then attack the enemy besieging the beach, but they were quickly pinned down by heavy fire and would fight non-stop for 31 more days before relief came.

Finally, amidst the chaos, men of the Naval Construction Battalions braved the hail of enemy bullets to bulldoze passages up the soft slopes. These new channels let Marines and equipment finally flow inland and escape from the packed beaches.

Acts of heroism and sacrifice were abundant and the Medal of Honor recipients were many.

70,000 more Marines landed in the next days, but the fighting was fierce and drawn out. Marines faced ambushes by Japanese troops who sprang from foxholes, shelling from hidden artillery pieces, hidden landmines, and fire from snipers who would melt back into the tunnels.

After harsh weeks of brutal fighting, U.S. forces finally secured victory, but it came at a terrible cost. 6821 ordinary Americans died with extraordinary bravery on Iwo Jima.

Stories of uncommon valor

Sgt. Darrell S. Cole of the 23rd Marines died after single-handedly disabling numerous pillboxes and a bunker.

Sergeant Ross Franklin Gray, single-handedly disarmed an entire mine field under heavy enemy fire. He was killed six days later.

Private First Class, James Dennis La Belle saved his brothers in arms by diving on a grenade. He was just 19 years old.

Major Douglas T. Jacobson risked his life to destroy sixteen enemy positions and kill seventy-five enemy soldiers. He destroyed pillboxes, a tank and earth-covered gun emplacements while under hostile fire.

Cpl. Tony Stein, a former toolmaker, cleared multiple pillboxes with a machine gun he adapted from a downed fighter plane. He made 8 trips back to the beach to restock with ammunition, avoiding a hail of bullets, each time taking a wounded Marine with him. He later fell to a sniper.

Lifted by conscription from lives like ours, they lost theirs in our service, far from home, so we honor them still, never letting the memory of their sacrifice fade. A real heirloom, our solid silver statue commemorates these fallen warriors.

6 Marines proudly raised the U.S. flag on the 528-foot summit of Iwo Jima’s Mount Suribachi. Combat photographer Joe Rosenthal captured the moment in his iconic photograph, and it quickly came to symbolize the courage of America in hearts and minds around the world.

Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima, by Joe RosenthalNational Archives and Records Administration

United States Marine Corps War Memorial byFelix de Weldon

It fired the imagination of sculptor Felix de Weldon. He created the United States Marine Corps War Memorial that proudly stands adjacent to Arlington National Cemetery. Its plaque bears the legend, “For the Marine dead of all wars, and their comrades of other services who fell fighting beside them.”

Now you can own your own solid silver tribute to the greatest generation, an heirloom to stir the heart with pride. We salute those who paid the high cost of freedom and we will always remember the price of peace.

Battle of Iwo Jima statues

One kilogram of history

WEIGHT Each statue weighs a whopping 1 kilogram (31.15 Troy Ounces)

MEASURES 126 x 70 x 176 mm (5" x 2.75" x 7.7")

Making the Iwo Jima Silver Statue

Old-World Artisan Silversmiths

Deep in the mountains of Thailand is where you’ll find the descendants of silver craftsmen, with a long lineage in the art and trade of creating museum quality pieces. To capture such meticulous detailing and handcrafted finishes, we’ve selected only the finest Thai silversmiths.